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Recruiting Rankings: June 5

AlexIll

Every week Craig Leighton and Kevin Farrahar will post their PC-specific recruiting power rankings, listing their top eight Friar targets. Unlike national rankings, we will rank players based on not only upside, but the fit at Providence, the need, and the likelihood of these prospects ending up at PC.

Kevin Farrahar’s Elite 8 for June 5, 2014:

1. Donovan Mitchell, Brewster Academy, class of 2015: Mitchell landed at #74 in ESPN’s updated rankings this week, leading The Basketball Diary to question if he’d be more appropriately ranked at 47. Mitchell has compared his game to Russell Westbrook, and Ty Boswell of Hoop Dreams Magazine wondered aloud if Mitchell eventually plays the 1 at the next level. If he does it would be in the Westbrook combo role.

2. Antoine Mason, Niagara University, Transfer (eligible immediately): Mason jumps up a spot in my rankings this week as he begins taking his visits. CBS is reporting that he’ll visit Providence June 8 and 9. BC and Auburn are both said to be involved. Mason could well be the difference between a top 4 Big East finish and an NIT bid. Critical recruit for PC.

3. Braxton Blackwell, Christ Presbyterian Academy, class of 2016: Blackwell is now ranked 25th in his class by ESPN. His latest accomplishment came in the form of a championship for Team USA in the 18U 3 on 3 tournament.

4. Jermaine Samuels, Rivers School, class of 2017: Bruce Brown is ranked 30th in the class of 2016 now? Made me think back to when I saw Samuels light up Vermont Academy in December… as a true freshman.

5. Steve Enoch, Norwalk High School, class of 2015: My first time listing Enoch comes after he exploded at the Pangos All American Camp last week. I dug a little bit deeper on him earlier this week.

6. Alex Illikainen, Grand Rapids (MN), class of 2015: Another first timer to my list (Craig has had him listed previously), Illikainen is a do-it-all 4 who cracked ESPN’s top 100 at #90. Craig’s Closer Look sold me further on his talent.

7. Miles Bridges, Huntington Prep, class of 2016: Bridges slides down the list by no fault of his own. ESPN now ranks him #8 nationally in his class and his production at the EYBL will make him a very tough get.

8. Bruce Brown, Vermont Academy, class of 2016: “Floored” may be a bit strong, but I did not expect Brown to crack the top 50, never mind land at ESPN’s #30 spot in their 2016 rankings. I’ve loved Brown’s game for the better part of a year now, but figured he’d be a top 100-125 recruit that Providence would have a strong chance of landing since they were in early. Still, Brown cracks the top 8 over a number of worthy contenders (Malik Beasley has been amazingly productive, Jalen Adams is a star, but PC appears to be fading there, I’m still not convinced that Naadir Tharpe is a legitimate possibility, while Tramaine Isabell could end up here depending upon where the 5th year transfers fall).

Craig Leighton’s Elite 8 for June 5, 2014:

1. Antoine Mason, Niagara University, Transfer (eligible immediately): Antoine moves up to number one on my list as he will be visiting PC this weekend and can fill a huge need for the 2014-2015 Friars if PC can land him. Mason, who it the returning leading scorer in Division One, is also looking at BC and Auburn. Hopefully the staff can convince him to commit on his visit this weekend.

2. Donovan Mitchell, Brewster Academy, class of 2015: Donovan played in the Mary Kline Classic last weekend and showed both improved outside shooting and playmaking ability during the game. He remains the Friars number one target for the class of 2015. In the latest ESPN ratings Donovan moved up to number 74 nationally for the 2015 class.

3. Braxton Blackwell, Christ Presbyterian Academy, class of 2016: Blackwell remains the Friars’ top target for the 2016 class. Braxton has indicated that he hopes to visit PC this summer and it will be a huge boost that his former teammate and friend Jalen Lindsey will be on campus most of this summer.

4. Jalen Adams, Cushing Academy, class of 2015: Adams shot up the latest ESPN ratings and now ranks 34th nationally in the class of 2015 in the latest ESPN ratings. Look for Jalen to crack the top 20 by the end of the summer AAU season.

5. Jermaine Samuels, Rivers School, class of 2017: ESPN came out with their first Top 25 ratings for the class of 2017 and Jermaine debuted at number 23. It will be very important for the Friars staff to maintain and continue to build a relationship with Samuels over the next couple of years.

6. Tramaine Isabell, Garfield High School, class of 2014: The 6’1 point guard has narrowed down his list of schools to PC and Missouri and has indicated that he hopes to set up a visit to Providence very soon. He will make an excellent addition to the 2014-2015 Friars if he commits and is academically eligible.

7. Steven Enoch, Norwalk High School, class of 2015: Steven burst on the scene nationally this week after his performance at the Pangos All-America Camp over the weekend. The Friars have been to see the Norwalk CT. recruit a few times and it a good thing they were in on him early as high majors from across the country are now calling him. There is still a question of whether he will reclass to the 2016 class or stay in the 2015 class.

8. Alex Illikainen, Grand Rapids (MN), class of 2015: Alex’s great performance during the the Spring EYBL circuit was rewarded this week when he made his debut in the 2015 ESPN Top 100 at number 90. Illikainen should continue to be a priority for the Friars for the 2015 class.

Others to Watch:

Naadir Tharpe, Kansas, transfer (eligible in 2014 or 2015)

Montaque Gill-Caesar, Huntington Prep, class of 2015

Jarred Reuter, Brewster Academy, class of 2015

Malik Beasley, St. Francis (GA), class of 2015

Jeremy Miller, New Hampton, class of 2015

Mamadou Diarra, Putnam Science Academy, class of 2015

Curtis Cobb, Wilbraham & Monson, class of 2015

Tomas Murphy, Prout High School, class of 2017

Aaron Falzon, Northfield Mount Hermon, class of 2015

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